Launch Vehicle Preparation (2:05) audio

The Delta 7326 used to launch the Genesis spacecraft was designed specifically for this mission. Boeing's Kris Walsh describes the modifications and the preparation of the launch vehicle and spacecraft for launch.

TRANSCRIPTION of LAUNCH VEHICLE PREPARATION audio:

We actually have developed this entire rocket for this mission. That means the cleanliness standards inside the fairing. For a 73[26] vehicle we have specific changes on our first stage. We have a Star 37. In terms of what integration we do specifically for Genesis during the last two weeks or so is Genesis will weigh, once it's completed it's final propellant loading, and will give me an exact weight of what their spacecraft will be. Then I will ballast my third stage so that when we do spin stabilize, we are balanced. I know the exact performance I can give them and it will be exactly what I've provided analytically to them months ahead of time. Then we will put the satellite on that third stage. We'll put a can around it to protect it. We then purge that can with nitrogen to keep the satellite dry and clean. We'll transport it to the launch site. We do this in the middle of the night basically, because the satellite can't travel at more than about 5 miles an hour. We also don't want high winds as we lift that satellite within the can up to the top of the rocket. So we try to be under the hook at about 5 a.m. We'll then lift the satellite up there, [and] put it in the whiteroom. We'll then close the whiteroom doors and we'll give it anywhere from 4 to 12 hours, so that any dust that we might have gotten into the whiteroom during that lift and insertion of the can into the whiteroom has been filtered out. And then we'll uncan the satellite and we will install it on the rocket.